Innovations in Sustainability in Cities and Regions:
some reflections on the USBy
Professor Peter NewmanInstitute for Sustainability and Technology Policy, Murdoch
University;Fulbright Scholar, School of Architecture, UVA.
ISTP started on sustainability in 1990; now has 80 PhD students; 200 masters students and 200
undergrads studying sustainability.
The sustainability era has arrived…
• Failure of modernism to solve the big problems.
• Fifth Cycle is IT-ET-ST together with ‘sustainability thinking’.
• Integration of economic, social and environmental to solve long term problems.
The problems requiring innovations in sustainability.•Fractured governance.•Climate change and oil vulnerability.•Urban sprawl and automobile dependence.•Regional disparities and inequity.•Loss of biodiversity and bioregional decay.•Loss of local identity and community.
1. Fractured governance.
• Reagan ‘forebad’ use of ‘sustainability’in US in 1980’s – loss of global leadership.
• Innovation moved to Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia…New Zealand.
• States, regions and cities filling the vacuum where national govt is weak..
• Sustainability re-emerging in the US as a word of politicians in cities and regions, eg New York.
• SustainLane sustainable cities list.• 42 cities with sustainability programs
(Portney)• Australia a head start.
WA State Sustainability
Strategy was the first of its kind in the
world. Why?Global resource companies, and green election in
2001...www.sustainability.dpc.wa.gov.au
2. Climate change and oil vulnerability.
Solar Urbanism in Europe
Healthier buildings…
Beddington Zero-Energy Development, London
Vastra Hamnen, Malmö
Power Production as Urban Design
First carbon neutral city…
European solar technology…
Leidsche Rijn
Re-Defining Urban Spaces as Power Production Opportunities
Rizhao Solar City, China
US leadership…
Chicago – goal to be US leader in green urbanism,
Bike facilitiesGreen Roofs
New York City - Green buildings and renewed transit with a Sustainability
Plan to reduce 30% ghg by 2030
From The Skyscraper Museum, NYC, at http://www.skyscraper.org/EXHIBITIONS/GREEN_TOWERS/gt_main.htm
Bank of America TowerBank of America TowerThe The SolaireSolaire
Freedom TowerFreedom TowerMillennium TowersMillennium Towers
US climate change and oil vulnerability….
• The Al Gore ‘tipping point’.• 370 cities signed up for Kyoto.• New York 30% by 2030.• North East states climate change
initiative – cap and trade.• California …
California• California Solar Initiative 2006 - $3.2
billion in rebates for solar technologies ….3000 MW.
• California vehicles regulation 2006 –30% less ghg by 2016. Being challenged in court by auto co’s and Federal govt.
• California Climate Bill AB32 2006 – sets cap of 25% less ghg by 2020. Innovative co’s can trade with those who find it hard.
• Green building – 600 LEED certified; 14,000 attended Green Building Council conference, 2006.
• Big companies now lobbying Bush for a cap and trade scheme for national uniformity and opportunities in innovation.
Bunbury Eco-Home, in partnership with TAFE
Peak oil…• The elephant in the
bedroom…• Bush 20% gasoline
reduction in ten years (State of Union, 2007) but no plan.
• 14 cities peak oil commitment.
3. Urban sprawl and automobile dependence.
Only if cities are changed as well as alternative fuels
Hope in a time of oil-derived terrorism…?
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Database on ISTP website:
sustainability.murdoch.edu.au
Two big policy areas…
• Transit• Walking/cycling
IT ALL DEPENDS ON TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES.
Transit revolution…chronology
• Small European cities • Canadian cities • Washington, Portland and Perth • Other US and Australian cities• Big European and US cities • Third world cities…
Strasbourg recreated its city centeraround an LRT
Many European cities such as Zurich have developed new urban villages around light rail.
Vancouver built its new wealth around it…
Alice Wood started slow food
restaurant in Berkeley and moved into
schools –The Edible
Schoolyard…now the whole school district.
100 mile menu and thanksgiving…
‘Unless mining can create a legacy of social value we have no right to mine.’ Brendan Hammond, CEO Argyle Diamonds.
Indigenous employment is a key sustainability issue…
The Argyle story…• Largest diamond mine in the world.• Stopped closure in late 90’s by having
a ‘sustainability makeover’.• Concluded that their legacy or
‘enduring value contribution’ would include Indigenous employment skills.
• From 0% to 25% in 5 years; goal 40% and 80% local.
• Shareholder value went from $200m to $2b in the 5 years.
Protocol has been developed and approved by the Kutkububba community (Mardu people) that provide royalties and heightened environmental management of the sandalwood species in harmony with the land’s custodians.
Indigenous Protocol
Is anyone doing it all?
European leadership…Vauban Frieburg
Eco-village with car-free housing.
The new ‘resilient, sustainable, solar city’demonstrations will be
the global leaders in innovation.
Belmont Park Eco-City
• Perth’s biggest TOD.• Total water cycle approach with storm water
retention, grey water recycling to track, groundwater recharge….
• Foreshore protection and restoration, groundwater ‘soil curtain’..
• Vision Keeper for on-going governance and sense of place.
TRAVEL SMART
Developed first in Western AustraliaSocial marketing based on direct
intervention with householders receiving educational materials on alternatives to the car.
Consistent reductions in car use of 15-20% when co-ordinated by local govt-based programs.• Being applied to workplaces also.
4. Regional disparities and inequity.
Most sustainability transitions require regional plans and
governance…• Transport, biodiversity, affordable
housing, water, waste, energy…• Regional governance based on
voluntary commitments from local govts or goodwill (eg NRM) rarely works.
• Failed dismally in the US.
Solutions…
• Forming regional governance around groups of councils with statutory powers to manage sustainability issues.
• WA has this model. Perth regional planning, now Bunbury…Ningaloo Coast.
• Need to extend to all regions.
5. Loss of biodiversity and bioregional decay.
• Using native plants.• Bush regeneration in cities.• Water sensitive design.• Cities as arks. • Bioregional links.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Austin Texas.
Demonstrating Native plants for home and
bush preservation
Clear Paddock Creek, Fairfield, Sydney.
Volunteer eradicating weeds in
Hornsby Shire – part of the Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy and Action Plan.
Woylie and WA orchids – using the city as an arc.
Gondwana Links….
6. Loss of local identity and community.
• Creating sense of place with museums, educational centres, story telling…
• Local products.• Local food.• Indigenous innovations.
Creating ‘sense of place’
Buying and promoting local products made with local materials
Fine woodcraft movement
Local food movement…slow food.
The High Energy Cost Of Food
Food in the US travels an average of 1500-2500 miles From field to plate….
The SUV in the Pantry
Local food from the bioregion adds Sense of Place and identity.
And reduces oil…
Community supported agriculture
DC classic eg of rebuilding a city around rail
Washington DC cf Atlanta• 1960’s similar sized cities – both looked at
transport future.• DC chose Metro – controversial.From 0 to 206 mill trips/yr since 1976,86 stations, 106 miles. • Atlanta went with freeways until recently. 38 miles transit, 50 million passengers in inner
ring only. 18 counties of sprawl with no transit.
• DC 50 GJ/person Atlanta 103 GJ/person.
Portland…
Even Minneapolis now…
Perth began its rail revival in 1983; rebuilding and extending created 182 kms electric rail.
7 mill pass/yr to 47 mill/yr in 15 years
New southern line will complete 180 kms of electric rail with 72 stations in 20 years.
Model of the city showing centres and corridors
‘GLOBAL ARC’ RAIL
US cities
• 100 new rail projects.• 25% increase in transit patronage 1995-
2005.• Between 2000 and 2030 between 25 and
42 extra fixed transit systems.• 3,349 stations and an extra 720 being
built. ‘Beacons of living’ Neil Pearce.
Denver6 new lines
US $5 bvoted
in.
Big European and US cities…• London, Paris, Berlin…• Chicago, San Francisco, New York $13 billion ….
China…
• Beijing building the biggest Metro in the world
• Most other Chinese cities hit the traffic wall and are now building transit.
Curitiba: left the third world through its transit system. BRT new flavor…
Hiawatha LRT MStP
Many LRTs are being built as an
economic development mechanism.
State Center TOD, PB Placemaking
Street Cars…The new kid on the block.
• 11 present cities in the US• 19 gaining approval SAFTEA-LU• 9 committed but not at funding stage• 15 evaluating…Some very small cities eg Kenosha Wi
Kenosha, 90,000 pop
Charlottesville Street Car
Importance of affordable housing for TODs
• Increasingly dense central locations are being built for the wealthy.
• Lower income families on the fringe are using up to 40% of their income on transport.
• Need affordable housing strategies for all TODs.
US rail revolution…• 2000-2006 72% of transit ballot
initiatives successful in 33 states (cf34% in other initiatives).
• This is over $110 billion of new transit.• TOD’s are happening… SAVING
FAMILIES 20% OF THEIR INCOME.
Centre for Transit Oriented Development and Reconnecting America.
However…• Not enough to turn the titanic…Eg Virginia’s transport budget is 8% for
transit; California reduced transit budget as they announced their target for 25% greenhouse reductions by 2020.
• MUST CONVERT MOST ROAD FUNDS TO SUSTAINABLE MODES.
Walking and Cycling
• The forgotten child in transport…• Changes the character of cities.• Most cities have between 25% and 65%
of trips walking/cycling, apart from American and Australian at less than 8%.
Vancouver lost 40,000 vehicles/day and gained 100,000 walk/bike
trips/day in the 90’s.
US cities have begun to remove freeways
• Milwaukee - helped revive city center.• San Francisco - Embarcadero now a
tree lined boulevard suitable for all modes.
‘COMPLETE STREETS’
People for Public Spaces:
• ‘Think of transportation as public space…’ David Burwell
• ‘Road engineers are realising they are in the community development business not just the facilities development business’. Andy Wiley-Schwartz.
• The slow road movement.
‘Naked Streets’…
Copenhagen30 year campaign to create people-
oriented streets. Reduced car parking 2%/year
27% use a car for work…the rest use green modes.
Boulder: the first small town demonstrating sustainability…now the US ‘most desired city’ to live in.
Vision of 30% sust modes – so took 30% of transport budget. Bicycle
routes lace the town
⑤ー1 Cheonggyecheon Area before Restoration
(http://www.metro.seoul.kr/kor2000/chungaehome/en/seoul/2sub.htm/)
⑥ー1 Cheonggyecheon Area after Restoration
(http://www.metro.seoul.kr/kor2000/chungaehome/en/seoul/2sub.htm/)
The re-opening of Aarhus River 1996 - 1998